Apparatus for distributing alternating currents.



No. 796,555. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905. A. F. BERRY.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING ALTERNATING GURRENTS.

' APPLICATION rum) NOV. a. 1903.

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ARTHUR FRANCIS BERRY, ()F EALING, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING ALTERNATING CURRENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Application filed November 6, 1903. Serial No. 180,102.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR FRANoIs BERRY, a subject of the King of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at Ealing, in the county of Middlesex,England, have invented Improvements in and Relating to Apparatus forDistributing Alternating Currents, of which the following is aspecification.

In the distribution of alternating electric current by means ofstationary transformers supplying a distributing system the load uponwhich is subject to considerable variatransformer, or of each maintransformer,

when the load does not exceed a predetermined amount, and whereby thewindings of the said supplementary transformer can be short-circuited assoon as the load increases beyond the capacity of the supplementarytransformer, the main transformer or transformers being then alone used.In such earlier arrangements the short-circuiting means have beenoperated atthe required times either by hand or automatically by anelectromagnetic device having a high resist ance winding constantly inthe secondary circuit.

The first-mentioned arrangement requires the constant presence of anattendant, while the second arrangement results in a constant andserious loss of energy in the electromagnetic device.

The present invention has for object to enable the short-circuitingmeans to be oper ated automatically and by electromagnetic means thatare only brought temporarily into circuit, so that it will not be liableto be injured by undue heating and will not cause waste of energy. Forthis purpose there is used in. conjunction with short-circuiting' means,such as switches for short-circuiting the primary and secondary windingof the supplementary transformer and putting the same out of action whenthe load on the distributing system increases beyond a predeterminedamount and for open-circuiting the said windings, so as to place them inseries with the main transformer or transformers when the load fallsbelow the said predetermined amount, an electromagnetic device foroperating the said short-circuiting means and an electrically-operatedswitch or relay apparatus having its winding arranged in the primary orsecondary circuit of the distributing system and adapted to connect theelectromagnetic device across a source of electric energy and cause itto operate the short-circuitinge means in one direction or the other,according as the load falls below or rises above the predeterminedamount, the arrangement beingsuch that the electromagnetic device afterbeing brought into action to operate the short-circuiting means in onedirection or the other will be immediately cut out of action, so as toprevent its being injured by undue heating and also to prevent waste ofenergy. The winding of the electrically-operated switch is preferablyarranged in the primary circuit, so that it can be constructed to absorbvery little energy and can be used as an indicator to continually showthe load on the primary circuit, and consequently that on the secondarycircuit.

The electrically-operated switch and short-.

circuiting means and the electromagnetic device for operating theshort-circuiting means under the control of the electrically-operatedswitch can be constructed in various forms.

The accompanying drawing shows diagrammatically a transforming-stationhaving main and supplementary transformers arranged for use, ashereinbefore described, together with a constructional arrangement ofshort-circuiting means, an electromagnetic device for actuating the saidshort-circuiting means, andan electrically-operated switch forautomatically putting the supplementary transformer in and out of seriesconnection with the main transformer or transformers to suit theconditions of working.

1 and 2 are the primary or high tension leads, and 3 and 4 the secondaryor lower-tension distributing-leads.

5 represents the primary windings, and 6 the secondary windings, of anumber of large transformers, the primary windings 5 being connected atone end through switches 7 to a common conductor 8 and at the otherendto the primary lead 2 and the secondary windings 6 being connected atone end through switches 9 to a common conductor 10 and at the other endto the secondary lead 4.

11 and 12 are respectively the primary and secondary windings of thesupplementary transformer, the primary winding 11 having one of its endsconnected to the primary lead 1 and the other to the conductor 8 and thesecondary Winding 12 having one of its ends connected to the secondarylead 3 and the other to the conductor 10.

The electrically-operated switch comprises an electromagnet having ahollow core 36 and a winding 37 in series with the primary lead 1, anarmature 38, acted upon by a spring 39. that tends to move it away fromthe concentric poles of the electromagnet, two movable switch-contacts40 and 41, and three flexible fixed contacts 47, 48, and 49, the severalcontacts being insulated from each other. The movable contacts 40 and 41are in the form of two levers that are insulated from each other, areelectrically connected to the secondary leads 3 and 4, respectively, byconductors 4O and 41*, and are mechanici lly connected to the armature33 in such a way that when the armature moves toward or from the saidpoles they will be respectively moved into the positions shown in fulland dotted lines. For this purpose the armature 38 is connected to a rod42, that is provided with a tubular holder 42 for a spring 42", that isarranged between and connected tothe adjacent ends of the levers 40 and41 for the purpose of moving them in one direction or the other,according to the direction of movement of the armature 38, and ofcausing them after passing the mid-position in either direction toquickly complete their movement.

43 is a switch-lever carrying a movable c0ntact 43, arranged to beinserted between and withdrawn from spring-contacts 13 and 16,connected, respectively, to the primarylead 1 and conductor 8 for thepurpose of controlling the circuit of the primary winding 11, and 44 isa similar lever carrying a movable contact 44, cooperating in the sameway with the contacts 14 and 17, connected to the secondarylead3 andconductor 10 for controlling the circuit of the secondary winding 12,these parts constituting the short-circuiting means hereinbeforereferred to. The contacts 43 44 are insulated from their carrying-levers43 44, as shown.

The electromagnetic device for operating the switch-levers comprises anelectromagnet having a stationary hollow cylindrical core 45, twowindings 46 46, arranged within the said core and connected,respectively, to the insulated spring-contacts 47 and 48 and alsoconnected'together at the point 46" and to the insulated spring-contact49, which is common to them, and two movable armatures 50 and 50, thatare rigidly connected together through a piece 50 of non-magneticmaterial for example, brass--and also to the levers 43 and 44 throughlinks 51, made of insulating material, the said levers 43 and 44 thusbeing insulated from each other. The contacts 47 and 48 are arranged inthe path of the long arm of lever 40 and are separated from each otherby a strip of insulating material 51. The contact 49 is arranged in the.path of the long arm of the lever 41.

The operation of the arrangement is as follows: Assuming the load on thesystem to be below the predetermined limit and the supple mentarytransformer to be in circuit, so that the movable parts of theelectrically-operated switch, electromagnetic actuating device, andshort-eircuiting means are in the positions shown in dotted lines, thenwhen the current in the primary mains 1 and 2 exceeds the predeterminedlimit the armature 38 of the elec trically-controlled switch will beattracted by the electromagnet 36 37 against the action of the spring39, so to move the contact-levers 40 and 41 from the positions shown indotted lines to those shown in full lines. The said levers in theirmovement will bear momentarily and simultaneously against the contacts48 and 49, respectively, with the result that the coil 46 will bemomentarily coupled across the leads 3 and 4 and the armatures 5O 50will be moved into the position shown in full lines, so as to cause themovable contacts 43 and 44,carried by the switch-levers 43 and 44, to beinserted, respectively, between the contacts 13 16 and 14 17 andshort-circuit the primary and secondary windings 11 and 12 of thesupplementary transformer, so that the main transformer or transformerswill alone be in action. W'hen the current in the primary leads 1 and 2falls below the predetermined extent, the armature 38 will be caused bythe spring 39 to move away from the poles of the electromagnet 36 37,and thereby move the contact-levers 40 and 41 in the reverse directionand into the positions shown in dotted lines, the said contact-leversduring their movement bearing momentarily and simultaneously against thecontacts 47 and 49, with the result that a momentary current will besent through the coil 46, whereby the armatures 5O 5O will be moved inthe opposite direction and into the positions shown in dotted lines, soas to withdraw the movable contacts 43 44, carried by the switchlevers43 and '44, from between the contacts 13 16 and 14 17 and open-circuitthe windings 11 and 12 of the supplementary transformer, so as to bringthem into series circuit with the primary and secondary windings 5 and6, respectively, of the main transformers.

The high and low tension windings 1'1 and 12 of the supplementarytransformer can, if desired, after being short circuited be disconnectedfrom the high and low tension leads, respectively.

The main and supplementary transformers -may of course be arranged totransform either down or up, as required.

What I claim is- 1. In apparatus for distributing alternating electriccurrent, the combination with one or more main transformers, of asupplementary transformer, short-circuiting means whereby the primaryand secondary windings of the supplementary transformer can be coupledin series with the primary and secondary windings respectively of themain transformer. or of each main transformer, when the load does notexceed a predetermined amount and whereby the windings of the saidsupplemens tary transformer can be short-circuited when the loadincreases beyond a predetermined amount, electromagnetic means adaptedto operate said short-circuiting means, and means whereby saidelectromagnetic means can be caused to become energized in a temporarymanner so as to actuate the short-circuiting means in one or otherdirection when the load rises above or falls below the predeterminedamount.

2. In an alternating-current-distributing system, the combination withone or more main transformers, of a supplementary transformer, switchmechanism whereby the primary and secondary windings of saidsupplementary transformer can be either short-circuited or placed inseries respectively with the primary and secondary windings of the maintransformer or transformers, a normally open circuited electromagneticdevice adapted to actuate said switch mechanism, and means whereby saidelectromagnetic device can be temporarily energized and caused tooperate said switch mechanism in one direction or the other whenthedemand on the system rises above or falls below a predeterminedamount.

3. In an alternating-current-distributing system, the combination withone or more main transformers, of a supplementary transformer, switchmechanism whereby the primary and secondary windings of saidsupplementary transformer can be short-circuited or placed in seriesrespectively with the primary and secondary windings of the maintransformer or transformers, a relay continually controlled by currentflowing through a part of the distributing system, and anelectromagnetic device adapted to be temporarily energized by the actionof said relay and arranged to operate said switch mechanism toshort-circuit or open-circuit the windings of the supplementarytransformer according as the demand on the said system rises above orfalls below a predetermined amount.

I. In an alternating-current-distributing system, the combination withone or more main transformers, of a supplementary transformer, switchmechanism whereby its primary and secondary windings can beshortcircuited or put in series respectively with the primary andsecondary windings of the main transformer or transformers,electromagnetic means normally on open circuit and adapted whenenergized to automatically cause the operation of said switch mechanism,a source of electric energy, and a relay subject to variation in theelectric. supply and adapted to cause said electromagnetic device to bemomentarily connected across said source of electric energy when theload on the system falls below or rises above a predetermined amount.

5. In an alternating-current-distributing system, the combination withone or more main transformers, of a supplementary transformer, switchmechanism whereby the primary and secondary windings of saidsupplementary transformer can be short-circuited or placed in seriesrespectively with the primary and secondary windings of the maintransformer or transformers, asource of electric energy, anelectromagnetic device having two separate normally open windingsarranged to be connected one at a time across said source of electricenergy and adapted to operate said switches in one direction or theother, and a relay arranged in one of the distributing-circuits andadapted to operate when the load on the system rises above or fallsbelow a predetermined amount and momentarily close the circuit of one orother of the two windings.

6. In an alternating-current-distributing system, the combination withone or more main transformers, of a supplementary transformer, switchmechanism whereby the primary and secondary windings of saidsupplementary transformer can be short-circuited or placed in seriesrespectively with the primary and secondary windings of the maintransformer or transformers, a normally open-circuited double-actingelectromagnetic device adapted, when energized, to actuate said switchmechanism in one or other direction, and an electrically-controlledswitch having its winding arranged in the primary circuit of the saidsystem and adapted, when the load rises above or falls below apredetermined amount, to cause the circuit of one or other of thewindings of the electromagnetic device to be closed across the secondarycircuit of the system and thereby cause the said device to actuate theswitch mechanism in the proper direction to respectively short-circuitor opencircuit the windings of the supplementary transformer. I

7. In an alternating current distributing system, the combination withprimary and secondary leads, of a supplementary transformer having itsprimary winding connected at one end to one of the primary leads and itssecondary winding connected at one end to one of the secondary leads,one or more main transformers having or each having its primary windingconnected at one end to the other primary lead and adapted to beconnected at the other end to the second end of the supplementaryprimary winding and its secondary winding connected at one end to theother secondary lead and adapted to be connected at the other end to thesecond end of the supplementary secondary winding, switches adapted toshort-circuit and to opencircuit the windings of the supplementarytransformer, arelay havingits winding in one of the circuits so as to besubject to variation of electrical conditions therein, and adoubleacting electromagnetic device adapted to actuate said switches andarranged to be temporarily connected across one of the pairs of leads bythe relay when the load rises above or falls below a predeterminedamount.

8. In an alternating current -distributing system, the combination withprimary and secondary leads, of a supplementary transformer having itsprimary winding connected at one end to one of the primary leadsand itssecondary winding connected at one end to one of the secondary leads,one or more main transformers having or each having its primary windingconnected at one end to the other primary lead and adapted to beconnected at the other end to the second end of the supplementaryprimary winding and its secondary winding connected at one end to theother secondary lead and adapted to be connected at the other end to thesecond end of the supplementary secondary winding, switches adapted toshort-circuit and to opencircuit the windings of the supplementarytransformer, an electrically-controlled switch having its winding inseries with the primary -lead to which the primary winding of saidsupplementary transformer is connected, and a double-actingelectromagnetic device connected to said switches and adapted to betemporarily connected across the secondary leads by said electricallycontrolled switch and thereby caused to operate in one or otherdirection, upon increase or decrease of current in said primary leadabove or below a predetermined amount.

9. in an alternating-current-distributing system, the combination withprimary and secondary leads, of a supplementary transformer having itsprimary winding connected at one end to one of the primary leads and itssecondary winding connected at one end to one of the secondary leads,one or more main transformers having or each having its primary windingconnected at one end to the other primary lead and adapted to beconnected at the other end to the second end of the supplementaryprimary winding and its secondary winding connected at one end to theother secondary lead and adapted to be connected at the other end to thesecond end of the supplementary secondary winding,switchcontactsconnected to the ends of the supplementary primary winding and aswitclrlever adapted to connect and disconnect said switchcontacts.switch-contacts connected to the ends of the supplementary secondarywinding and a switch-lever adapted to connect and discon nect theseswitch-contacts, a reciprocatory electromagnetic device having twoseparate windings each adapted to be alternately connected across thesecondary circuit and a double-acting armature connected to saidswitchlevers, and adapted to be moved in one or other directionaccording to the winding that is connected across the secondary circuit,and an electrically-controlled switch having its winding arranged in oneof the leads and adapted to momentarily close the circuit of one orother of the windings of the said eleetromagnetic device according asthe current passing through it rises above or falls below apredetermined amount.

10. In an alternating-current-distributing system, the combination withone or more main transformers, of a supplementary transformer, separateswitches whereby the primary and secondary windings of the saidsupplementary transformer can be short-circuited or placed in seriesrespectively with the primary and secondary windings of the maintransformer or transformers, an electromagnetic device comprising ahollow cylimlrical iron core, connected armature end plates ar ranged tomove toward and from the respective ends'of said core and connected tosaid switches, and two windings, and an electrically-controlled switchcomprising a winding in the primary distributing-oircuit, an armaturearranged to be actuated when the currentflowing through saidswitch-winding rises above or falls below a 1:)redetermined amount, twoinsulated contact-levers connected to the low-tension leads and arrangedto be actuated quickly in one direction or the other when moved by saidswitch-armature, a pair of insulated stationary contacts connected tothe outer ends of the two windings of the electromagnetic device andarranged in the path of one of the contact-levers, and a thirdstationary contact connected to the inner ends of the two windings andarranged in the path of the second contact lever, substantially asdescribed.

Signed at London, England, this 23d day of October, 1903.

ARTHUR FRANCIS BERRY.

Witnesses:

H. D. JAMnsoN, A. NUTTING.

